The mayor of Columbus this morning issued an apology for his part in a Thursday altercation with Ward 5 City Councilman Kabir Karriem.
And Karriem held a press conference at the Municipal Complex to “apologize” and to set the record straight, he said.
“I would like to take this time to offer a sincere apology to my family, my friends and fellow council members, and especially to the citizens of Columbus for the event that took place at City Hall on Thursday night,” Columbus Mayor Robert Smith wrote in a prepared statement e-mailed this morning. “The event that occurred that night was truly unfortunate and I deeply regret that this has happened.”
While Smith didn”t offer any details on the exchange, Karriem said, in an interview with The Dispatch this morning, he was home watching TV when he got a call from the mayor at around 8:30 p.m.
“He called me from City Hall; I have never heard Robert like that before. It was M.F. this, M.F. that,” Karriem said.
After Karriem arrived at City Hall, Smith said, “You little M.F.; you don”t know who you”re F-ing with,” according to Karriem, who said Smith was upset because Karriem had asked to add discussion of the city”s match of a $2 million MDOT grant to renovate the old river bridge to the agenda for Tuesday”s council meeting.
“He grabbed me; I had my phone in my hand. We were locked up,” Karriem said.
Ward 1 City Councilman Gene Taylor came out of his office when he heard the noise, Karriem said.
“Let him go,” said Taylor, according to Karriem.
“Get your ass back in the office,” Smith told Taylor, according to Karriem.
The fight ended when Karriem”s brother, Ahmad, saw the scuffle and came through the door at City Hall; he was at the post office across the street.
“I wish I could get an apology from the mayor. I have the right to ask questions,” Kabir Karriem added.
After the incident, Karriem was treated and released from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for injuries sustained during the fight.
“I had heard legends of Robert but had never experienced it,” Karriem said of rumors Smith has a temper.
Smith was in a meeting this morning when contacted by The Dispatch for a response.
The Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office, which is investigating the matter, confirmed Karriem Friday filed an arrest affidavit for simple assault against Smith.
Smith turned himself in and was booked Friday afternoon in the Lowndes County jail and was released on a $250 bond; a preliminary hearing on the misdemeanor charge has been scheduled for April 27.
Smith also apologized to the “youth of Columbus and the surrounding area” in his letter. He expressed hopes he can regain the city”s trust and the community can move past the “spectacle of the past few days.”
“It is still my goal to work hard, persevere and continue my efforts to make Columbus a city of hope, unity and a city that we can all be proud of,” Smith continued.
Karriem said he called a press conference to “apologize to the citizens of Columbus and Lowndes County, especially the good people in Ward 5, my fellow council members, Mayor Smith, family, supporters and friends for an unfortunate and regrettable situation.”
Confirming he and Smith were in a “physical confrontation at City Hall,” he noted, “The situation has been a personal embarrassment, as well as a public one, for me.”
“For this incident, I sincerely apologize,” he said. “I understand the responsibility and great expectation that comes with being an elected official. As a member of the Columbus City Council, my goal is to provide leadership and help make this community a better place to live. But all is not lost because of this situation. It is no doubt in my mind that this adversity will be a learning moment for me, as I forge on to the job I was elected to do.
“In order for me to effectively move forward, I think it is necessary that the truth be told regarding this situation. Reckless and irresponsible news media reports made claim that I put my finger in the mayor”s face. Those reports and news statements are inaccurate and totally untrue,” he continued, referring to reports from WCBI-TV. “At no point was I confrontational with the mayor. As a matter of fact, it was the mayor who put his finger in my face and I was on the phone at the same time of the incident with another councilman (who) heard part if not all of the incident.”
Karriem declined to identify the councilman with whom he said he was speaking at the time.
“To suggest that someone saw me put my finger in the mayor”s face is untrue,” he added. “It does not reflect my personal demeanor and, if necessary, I am willing to submit to a polygraph test to validate my story.”
Karriem would not comment on whether he intends to file a lawsuit or pursue legal action against Smith.
“It is not my intent to dwell on this unfortunate situation,” he said. “However, I think the public needs to understand that I, as a councilman, along with other council members and employees of Columbus cannot function successfully through acts of intimidation. The present environment at City Hall can only be characterized as a playground bully trying to control every situation, through acts of profanity and sheer intimidation.
“If we are to move forward, we must all be respected as elected officials working in the spirit of unity and harmony and employees must be allowed to have the ability to do their jobs without threats of reprisals or violence,” he added. “In closing, it is my hope that all the facts are manifested about this unfortunate situation and these issues are properly addressed, so that we move ahead and work for the needs and concerns of the people.”
Karriem this morning said he has not spoken with Smith since the incident.
This story contains reporting from Dispatch Publisher Birney Imes.
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